Craft Cocktails Without Pretense At North Loop's Tigress Pub

Owner Pat Pritchard talks with guests at The Tigress Pub (Credit: The Tigress Pub)

The Tigress Pub has been crafting cocktails since 2010 and was one of the first bars in Austin to partake in the cocktail revolution. Because they take their craft seriously, they’ve become one of our city’s top neighborhood bars in the process.

I chatted with owner Pam Pritchard about how The Tigress Pub came to be, while sampling drinks from the new October menu. Here’s everything you need to know.

The Perfect Neighborhood Pub

The Tigress Pub is located on North Loop Boulevard

When I met Pritchard, I instantly recognized her zest for life. She leans into the concept of knowing yourself in order to know your business. She took time observing other bars, interviewing bar owners and taking business courses to understand what she wanted her business to portray.

The interior decor is simple and inviting

After six years of planning, a trip to a small town in England was the turning point. The sense of community she found in a local bar there was exactly what she wanted her own business to be about. “A neighborhood bar with good cocktails. Because once you have had a good cocktail, you don’t ever want to drink another bad one.” And that’s exactly what you get at The Tigress Pub. It’s a no-fuss neighborhood bar where you can enjoy a drink without pretense.

When Pritchard first opened the doors, she wanted a small venue she could easily handle. There were no other bars on North Loop at the time, making The Tigress Pub a perfect hangout for neighbors. Since then, Pritchard has expanded the location to its current footprint, recently adding a patio area. “It’s now the perfect size,” she shared.

The ambiance inside is basic, yet there are a couple of things that stand out. For example, the old fashioned phone on the bar actually works! It’s not just there to make the bar seem “cool;” it’s a functioning piece of equipment. That’s what I mean by no pretense.

I also noticed there are TVs, but you won’t ever catch sports on the screens. Instead, subconscious stimulation is provided without discouraging patrons from talking with each other.

Best of all, people do actually talk to each other. While my husband and I sat at the bar, we met several patrons who gave recommendations about what to try, and shared about their days leading up to our convergence at The Tigress Pub on that Saturday evening.

Rotating Cocktail Menu

The Green Drink is only available in the months of March and October due to the fresh ingredients required

The Tigress Pub is a neighborhood favorite for good reason. The rotating cocktail menu keeps drinks fresh, since the bar only uses ingredients that are in season. October’s selections are sure to please your taste buds.

One drink to keep an eye out for this month is The Green Drink. It’s only available during March and October because of the fresh ingredients required. The mix of Chartreuse, Verdita, Falernum and lime juice isn’t too sweet, yet it’s extremely aromatic. It’s topped with a slapped piece of fresh mint. Yes, I say slapped because a good bartender knows the way to get the most flavor out of herbs is to “smack them awake.”

The Luna Drop October Cocktail at The Tigress Pub

The Luna Drop is also on the new October cocktail menu

Another new drink on the menu this month is the Luna Drop. This drink combines gin, Chareau aloe liqueur, lemon juice and Lillet blanc–stirred, not shaken. Contrary to popular belief–and 007–shaking your gin can actually “bruise” it, Pritchard explained. You typically want to shake a drink only if there is fruit or dairy added. Otherwise, a simple stir will give you the taste you’re looking for without the extra air.

More Than Cocktails at The Tigress Pub

While The Tigress Pub is known for craft cocktails, they do have proper pints for Austin’s beer drinkers, inspired by English pubs, of course. What I love about the beer selection is that it’s small and carefully curated. There’s no need to have 100 choices if you offer five outstanding pours for folks to enjoy. Proper pints are served for only $6.

So the next time you’re looking for a quiet bar where you can sip exceptional cocktails, take a trip to The Tigress Pub. Even if you don’t live in the North Loop neighborhood, the staff and patrons will make you feel right at home.

100 W. North Loop Blvd. – Website

@jpino9 wants to know:

Do you have a go-to cocktail at The Tigress Pub?